Rose Jackson

Rose Jackson came up in the rich folk scene of western Massachusetts, discovering contra dance at the age most kids encounter The Beatles, and Morris not long after. She studied under fiddler Becky Tracy (Nightingale, Wild Asparagus) from whom she inherited a wide repertoire of music from Quebec and New England, a deep love for old tunes, and the unshakeable sense of rhythm and danceability which infuses her playing. From multi-instrumentalist Pete Sutherland (Pete’s Posse) and Young Tradition Vermont, she developed her keen sense of song arrangement and harmony, and spent formative years in a Brattleboro pub listening to the songs of British singer and folklorist Tony Barrand. Dance traditions of many sorts are an integral part of the fabric of her work, including receiving an award from the North American Manx Association for contributions to maintaining an awareness of the Isle of Man and its culture. She’s taught fiddle, song, and dance at camps and festivals around New England, toured nationally with her band Polaris and now tours with her quartet Stove Dragon and in a duo with Helen Kuhar. This year, she received one of the Massachusetts Cultural Council’s competitive Grants for Creative Individuals for her work as a tradition bearer of New England fiddle music.